Steve Smith led from the front and scored his 35th Test hundred to help Australia dominate proceedings on Wednesday in Galle. Usman Khawaja roared back to form with a hundred after Travis Head gave the visitors a blazing start.

Usman Khawaja's first Test century in almost two years and Steve Smith joining a prestigious group of all-time greats were the individual high points, but Australia's batting dominance on return to Asian conditions provided the story of day one against Sri Lanka at Galle.

Australia had already qualified for the semi-finals ahead of Sri Lanka but were unable to carry their unbeaten record into the last four. Chamudi Praboda led an impressive bowling attack that took regular wickets and refused to allow Australia to build any momentum in their chase of 100.

This is stand-in captain Steven Smith's advice to Australia's less-experienced batters, as he prepares to lead them in a two-Test series against Sri Lanka in Galle. Of Australia's batters on tour, Smith understands the challenge ahead more than most - he has two hundreds in Sri Lanka,

Australia 261 for 2 (Khawaja 119*, Smith 64*, Head 57, Vandersay 1-67) vs Sri Lanka Stand-in captain Steven Smith scored his 10,000th Test run before compiling a majestic half-century, while Usman Khawaja reached his 16th ton as Australia were rewarded for an aggressive approach against a spin-heavy Sri Lanka attack on a slow Galle surface.

Australia stand-in captain Steven Smith advised his teammates, who hold minimal experience in the sub-continent to be "proactive" against Sri Lankan spinners in Galle. The challenge of playing in the subcontinent often revolves around whether the ball will spin or stay straight when it reaches the batter.